Nitrc oxide plays role in aiding melatonin's antidepressant effects

Had to look up several references but was finally able to confirm that nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, when combined with melatonin, measurably improves antidepressant effects in mice. Now the combination of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and melatonin are being tested prophylactically to help with sleep disturbances that are associated with stroke and to effectively reduce post-stroke depression.

Having known someone who had a stroke at a fairly young age and seeing how he had to struggle with depression, I am especially glad to hear of finding new ways to help with this difficult problem using natural means.

Asthma inhalers: One small step against global warming

The FDA took a stand recently when it approved a new propellant for asthma inhalers. Up until the ruling, inhalers were made with propellants containing CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)--now known to be harmful to the Earth's ozone layer. The new chemical, HFA (hydrofluoroalkane), is considered safe for human ingestion but is much safer for the earth's environment.

AstraZeneca is currently recruiting for a clinical trial of one type of the HFA inhaler for people with asthma ages 18 to 65. The tests will measure among other things the amount of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) after each dose--a non-invasive way to gauge the need for changes in asthma medication.

The FDA move appears to signal a greater acceptance among government agencies of humankind's role in global warming. And Walmart has just introduced an HFA inhaler for $9--a lot cheaper than previous prices. Let's hope this is the start of real change at every level to reverse the trend toward depleting our earthly resources through irresponsible and profligate use.

Nitric oxide signaling plays role in multiple diseases

Once again nitric oxide (NO) shows itself as a multitalented and multitasking substance. In a new study researchers have found that it's not just how much or how little of it your cells have, but how much nitric oxide is being added or taken away from proteins by the body's enzymes--the removal process itself (dynitrosylation) seems to trigger apoptosis (cell death) in the cells it's being removed from.

This discovery is meaningful in many diseases that involve inflammation--including widespread conditions like heart failure, asthma, atherosclerosis, Parkinson's, diabetes, and cancer.

So--like those of the earth's ecosystem--our bodies' systems and components continue to gradually reveal themselves as intimately and profoundly connected in countless ways that we have only begun to discern.

Exhaled nitric oxide real clue to symptoms in mitral stenosis

Patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis (calcifiation of the mitral valve generally precipitated by an earlier case of rheumatic fever) experience varying levels of inhibition in their breathing and exercise abilities. But sometimes patients exhibit symptoms that are more severe than the level of stenosis indicated by a regular echocardiogram would warrant. In this study, researchers used cardiopulmonary exercise testing and measured exhaled nitric oxide to try to uncover reasons for the discrepancy. By measuring nitric oxide output both before and after exercise, they found nitric oxide has a significant role in regulating the tone of the patient's pulmonary cardiovascular system, and thus the pressure within the heart.

So if you have mitral stenosis and you feel worse than your doctor says you should, ask him/her about doing an exercise stress test. You don't want to submit to open-heart surgery unless it's absolutely called for--and this may be a way to tell.

A enlightening function of nitric oxide

It's St. Patrick's day, and though I haven't been out partaking of the early-am parties, I do feel like sharing a light-hearted notation about good old nitric oxide.

Seems some company has invented a fake lightning bug--or at least come up with a way to imitate the effect they produce in our temperate-zone backyards on warm spring nights. These fake fireflies use electronic energy to light up, but the secret of the glow of real lightning bugs is nitric oxide in their abdomens.

Interesting how science provides its own enchantment. Doesn't spoil my enjoyment of lightning bugs one bit to know where their magic comes from.

Nitric oxide makes stored blood flow better--Hematology/Oncology, Hematology

More impressive stuff from our favorite stuff, nitric oxide. Research shows that red blood cells lose a massive amount of nitric oxide in the the first 3 hours of being stored outside the body. By day 21 the blood is virtually empty of this vital substance. Experiments with dogs are showing that adding it back in greatly improves levels of S-nitrohemoglobin (which carries nitric oxide in blood) and dramatically increases blood flow in hypoxic (oxygen-starved) tissue. The hope is that treating banked blood with nitric oxide may greatly reduce the dangers of transfusion--reducing or eliminating occurrences of heart attack and even death. Read the whole thing Hematology/Oncology, Hematology from MedPage Today

New technologies at work for asthma and diabetes

With the invention of a nanosensor that measures nitric oxide in the breath, a new race may have begun to help those who suffer from asthma. Just as researchers are constantly searching for less invasive ways for diabetics to test their blood glucose levels, now this nitric oxide nanosensor is the first on-the-street way to predict--and possibly prevent--a serious asthma attack.

Since levels of NO rise as airways become more inflamed, asthmatics can be alerted as early as three weeks ahead of a possible impending episode and thus adjust their inhaled and other medications to ward off the attack.

With diabetes, glucose monitoring is critical and about 25 types of meters are currently available for home testing. So far, researchers haven't managed to get FDA approval on a non-invasive glucose testing device, though a few have been invented and developed using infrared technology. Earlier this year a cell-phone-sized glucose sensing device walked off with all kinds of awards at the International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products.

Just as we've now found stem cells can perform "miraculous" regrowth of human tissue (remember those high school biology days when we all thought the planarium worm was the only creature that could grow its parts back?), now we are discovering other ways to help human beings without hurting, cutting, bleeding, and traumatizing them with our cures. Looks to me like we'll just keep finding more of this good news every day.

What a time to be alive.